For more than a century, builders have used asbestos products to insulate our homes and often our heat and water pipes within our buildings. It was not known that exposure to these fibrous minerals caused a variety of cancers. Over the past couple of decades, great efforts have been made to remove this cancer causing product, especially as protective coverings of the insulation have become worn or torn.
A major drawback to the discovery of the carcinogenic impact of asbestos is the fact that it can take 20 or more years for the cancer to develop, even as much as 50 years. The other problem, like so many cancers, the trigger does not affect everyone equally, which makes it a very complex diagnostic problem. Asbestos cancer is called mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer that is caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure
And again, like many cancers, there are different types and/or ‘severity’ classifications of this disease.
Mesothelioma can be:
1. Pleural Mesothelioma – the most common type, which develops in the membranes that line the body’s organs and cavities; In this case, the cancer develops in the lungs, more specifically the lining of the lungs. This particular type of mesothelioma accounts for more than 70% of all cases diagnosed.
2. Peritoneal Mesothelioma accounts for 10% - 20% of all mesothelioma diagnoses. It develops in the abdomen, specifically in the mesothelial cells that form a layer called the peritoneum.
3. Pericardial Mesothelioma encompasses nearly half of all pericardial tumors, but these are extremely rare. Records indicate that this type of mesothelioma is only 1% - 6% of all cases. According to June 2009 statistics, approximately 200 cases world-wide have been diagnosed. These tumors can cover most of the lining of the heart.
4. Testicular Mesothelioma is the rarest form of malignant mesothelioma. To date (June 09), less than 100 cases were reported. This type, like the others, invades the “lining” surrounding the organ, specifically the tunica vaginalis around the testicle. This lining around the organ provides protection and support for this male reproductive organ.
5. Benign Mesothelioma is another form of rapid cellular growth forming tumors or solid lumps of cells from asbestos exposure. This form of mesothelioma often surfaces in younger persons exposed to these materials. But note, benign tumors are not classified as cancer, only the malignancies are given that classification. This type of tumor is often treated more easily once detected and is often the “wake-up call” alerting the patient and the doctor to search or monitor for a more invasive asbestos-related disease. This form is often marked as the least deadly form of mesothelioma.
As mentioned in Part I of Finding a Cure for Lung Cancer, finding the cause has been accomplished but has not resulted in curing it. As shown above, mesothelioma develops in a number of locations throughout the body but is primarily a lung cancer.
So why hasn’t this form of lung cancer been “cured”? What will it take to reach that elusive goal?
In part, as previously mentioned, it will require all who are exposed to asbestos to strictly follow the guidelines for proper handling of this carcinogenic product. Protective gear has been developed and proven to be safe in preventing workers from ingesting the microscopic particles that invade organ linings.
Does every worker wear this protective gear? No.
Does every worker who wears the gear take great care in ‘suiting up’ properly? No.
And thus these people are still at risk of developing mesothelioma, and a "cure" is not in effect.
More about mesothelioma and the “Second-Hand” impact will be discussed in Part III of this series.
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